The Head of the Government, Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé, leading a government delegation, went round a number of schools in Greater Lomé on Monday 16 September 2024. The Prime Minister’s visit allowed her to witness the actual start of the 2024-2025 school year.

At Lycée de Tokoin 2 and CEG Agoè-Nyivé-Ouest, classes were running smoothly and same was reported in all other schools in the country on the first day of the new school year. Teachers and supervisors were at post to see to the actual resumption of classes and the pupils’ attendance was
paramount.

“It was all about conveying the message of His Excellency Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Republic, to all learners and the entire education community. It is a message of encouragement and congratulations for successfully starting the new school year. They are urged to pursue last year’s efforts to achieve yet a new successful year with the involvement of all stakeholders concerned” advised the Minister for Higher Education and Research, Kanka-Malik Natchaba.

According to the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof Komla Dodzi Kokoroko, “the new school year started as scheduled simply because the government took swift actions under the authority of the President of the Republic, whom I wish to thank. The new 2024-2025 academic year is marked by breakthroughs, innovations and also by issues we need to constantly dealt with, and I urge all those involved to make sure that the school of the Republic remains our compass and our reference point. And when the school goes, the Republic goes.”

The innovations include an overwhelming number of circular notes encouraging teachers to adopt new teaching methods, a ban on mobile phones in schools, the recruitment of 3,600 teachers for the 2024-2025, and the deployment of science teachers in all the education regions. The changes include tougher school inspection, more involvement of teachers, in particular of the management staff. The first key to success will be the fear of inspectors or teachers. The purpose being not to terrorise anyone but to ensure the effective implementation of the education benchmarks we have set ourselves.

Speaking on the occasion, the Head of the Government reiterated that education remains at the heart of national priorities, with particular emphasis on the quality of education for all children. On behalf of the Head of State, she congratulated the teaching and supervisory staff for their commitment, professionalism, passion, availability and patriotism in achieving a successful new school year. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s preparedness to keep on meeting the challenges ofbuilding classrooms, equipping them, as well as recruiting and training teachers.